“In the dark she felt the key turning in the latch and a voice spoke to her: open the door”, whispers Maura (Mary Ryan), the odd, intense daughter of an impoverished rural family in early 1800s Ireland who is accused of witchcraft after she’s seen consorting in the woods with a conjurer and fiddle player named Scarf Michael (Mick Lally). Her neighbors and even her own family become increasingly consumed by fear and superstition, as Maura starts to experience surreal, poetic flashes of her latent powers. A major rediscovery for fans of folklore, fantasy and folk horror, THE OUTCASTS was the first feature directed by Robert Wynne-Simmons, famed for his work as writer on the seminal British folk horror film BLOOD ON SATAN’S CLAW. THE OUTCASTS plays like an ancient ballad somehow captured on film, filled with the sorcery of earth and woods, musicians hooded in pagan straw masks and skirts, prejudice, myth and religion – and the peat and the mud and the bone-chilling cold. “There’s a queer sweetness in the air. It’s an unnatural state of affairs,” as one character murmurs. Ryan delivers an unforgettable performance as Maura with her piercing, raven-like beauty, matched by Lally as the nearly-mythic Scarf Michael. With a superb, lyrical score by acclaimed traditional folk composer Stephen Cooney. Recently restored by the Irish Film Institute – Film Archive, THE OUTCASTS emerges as one of the great gems of Irish cinema – released for the first time ever in the U.S. by Deaf Crocodile.

For thoughts on The Outcasts, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

The Outcasts debuts on Blu-Ray in its original 1.66:1 theatrical aspect ratio with a 1080p master derived from a new restoration conducted by the Irish Film Institute. The film was shot on 16mm and blown up to 35mm for its original cinema release. The 35mm Colour Reversal Intermediate was scanned in 4K and finished in 2K. There is a brief text screen before the film that sets your expectations for the prominence of grain in some of the low-light situations, but we view this as a feature rather than a bug. The utmost care has been taken to ensure this picture is as faithful to the source as possible, thankfully eschewing any ghastly digital manipulation.

The colors are perfectly in line with the intended aesthetic of the feature. Black levels are impressive with no semblance of black crush or compression artifacts. The contrast is in fine shape, and there is virtually no print damage to be found thanks to the careful restoration efforts. The beautiful restoration is put over the top by an idyllic encoding effort. The photography captures the distinct environments that thrive in high definition with natural grain intact and nicely resolved. There is a formidable amount of detail present with prominent textures on the costumes and the rustic production design. The new transfer shows off a great amount of depth and enhanced detail even when the visuals are intended to be dreamlike. Deaf Crocodile has once again saved another gem from obscurity.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray arrives with a swell LPCM 1.0 mono track in the original English. Dialogue comes through fairly clearly without the sound effects or the score stealing focus from important information. The film deploys some notable sound effects that are given the appropriate presence within the mix. The journey undertaken by our protagonist is filled with unique sonic characteristics that stand resolute in the speakers. The haunting score from Steve Cooney comes through well in relation to the competing sounds. This track achieves everything it needs to with great fidelity and no obvious damage or other unwanted issues. Deaf Crocodile has treated the audio side of the equation as well as the video. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

The Deluxe Edition Blu-Ray of The Outcasts arrives in a hard slipcase package that is a beauty in person. The release also includes a 60-page, bound book featuring writing by film critic Walter Chaw and Irish filmmaker Paul Duane. This provides great insight into the film, the themes, the creatives, and the behind-the-scenes details in a thoughtfully written style. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Interview with Director Robert Wynne-Simmons: An 83-minute conversation with the filmmaker conducted by Dennis Bartok of Deaf Crocodile in which he speaks about his background, early influences, getting into filmmaking, the challenges of making The Outcasts, and so much more that is worth a listen. Unfortunately, there was an issue with the director’s microphone that makes it difficult to understand him, but it is still audible enough to enjoy.

Interview with Composer Steve Cooney: A 48-minute conversation with the composer conducted by Dennis Bartok of Deaf Crocodile in which he reflects on watching the film for the first time in over four decades, the challenges of scoring a film without current technological advancements, capturing the Irish sound, and more.

Visual Essay by Rod Stoneman: A 29-minute visual essay by producer and professor Rod Stoneman, former head of Bord Scannán na hÉireann/ the Irish Film Board, in which he delves into this film’s place within Irish cinema and the intricacies of the production.

The Judgement of Albion – Prophesies of William Blake: A 26-minute short film from Robert Wynne-Simmons that pays tribute to the poet through stark imagery and narration.

Early 8mm Films by Robert Wynne-Simmons: Four early films from the director have been restored and presented here. Some of the shorts feature unexpected appearances from Charlton Heston, Michael Redgrave, Peter O’Toole, and Sammy Davis Jr.

- The Greatest All-Star Advertial of All Time (1:27)

- Bomb Disposal (4:29)

- L’Eredita di Diavolo (14:24)

- The Scrolls (25:19)

Final Thoughts

The Outcasts is a terrific bit of Irish filmmaking that immerses you into this time and place with an assured hand. The film is deliberate in its pacing, but it uses each moment to add to the sense of isolation felt by the main character and the allure she feels to those who do not treat her with disdain. There is a lot to appreciate on a single viewing, but there is so much to consider after you reach the end that you will want to watch it multiple times. It is a shame this has been out of circulation for so long, but we love that physical media is giving it a chance to find its audience. Deaf Crocodile has released a Blu-Ray which sports a fantastic A/V presentation and an excellent assortment of special features in lovely packaging. Recommended

The Outcasts is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Deluxe Edition Slipcase exclusively through Deaf Crocodile and DiabolikDVD.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Deaf Crocodile has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.